HR Manager (US Experience, WFH)

Optimal Unlimited; Cebu City; Remote; PHP 1,800,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Optimal Unlimited is seeking an experienced HR Manager to lead the Human Resources division with executive ownership. You will own end‑to‑end recruitment, manage US payroll and benefits, and oversee US HRIS within a PEO framework, collaborating with senior leadership and external partners.

The role emphasizes policy development, staff development, and compliance with regional labor regulations, with a pathway toward an HR Director role as the team scales.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years in full‑cycle recruitment and talent strategy.
• US payroll administration experience required.
• Experience with US employee benefits and 401(k) plans.
• US HRIS experience in a PEO environment; evaluate/transition platforms.
• Familiarity with ADP Workforce for payroll/HR management.
• Strong knowledge of NY/NJ labor laws and compliance.
• Excellent English communication, with executives and staff.
• Leadership, initiative, and ability to work independently.
• Tech-savvy with Gmail, Drive, Docs, Excel.

Responsibilities

• Manage end‑to‑end recruitment processes and onboarding.
• Oversee full‑cycle US payroll and benefits administration.
• Handle US HRIS projects and PEO relationships; evaluate platforms.
• Ensure compliance with NY/NJ labor laws and HR processes.
• Lead and mentor HR operations staff; drive onboarding/offboarding programs.
• Coordinate HR workflows and integrations across tools and systems.
• Maintain accurate data and policy documentation; report metrics to leadership.

Skills

Recruitment

US payroll

US HRIS

ADP Workforce

Labor law – NY/NJ

English communication

Leadership

Problem solving

Gmail/Google Drive

Team mentorship

Tools

ADP Workforce

Google Workspace

AppFolio

Job description

HR Manager

About the Role

We are seeking a highly organized and experienced HR Manager to join the Human Resources division of our client. This is an Executive-Level position responsible for ensuring operational excellence, ownership, and independence across our HR functions. The role combines strategic oversight, hands‑on mentorship, and cross‑functional collaboration to drive performance, consistency, and organizational growth.

You will serve as the primary resource for HR best practices, manage end‑to‑end recruitment, handle US payroll, oversee US HRIS systems, and coordinate directly with senior leadership, employees, systems, and external partners. Your focus will be on taking full ownership of responsibilities, establishing structured workflows, developing staff, ensuring compliance across regional labor regulations, and maintaining alignment with company goals with a clear trajectory toward an HR Director role.

Who is this role a fit for?

This role is ideal for someone who combines strong operational HR skills with exceptional leadership and problem‑solving abilities. The right candidate is:

• Proactive, detail-oriented, and self-driven
• Calm under pressure and solution‑focused
• An empathetic yet driven leader capable of mentoring others and aligning a team behind a common goal
• An exceptional verbal and written English communicator comfortable interfacing with executives, employees, and cross‑functional stakeholders

Key Responsibilities

Recruitment & Talent Acquisition

• Manage end‑to‑end recruitment, candidate screening, sourcing, interviewing, and offer negotiations.
• Develop and implement scalable talent acquisition strategies to support organizational growth.

US Payroll, Benefits & HRIS Management

• Oversee full‑cycle US payroll processing, administration, timely adjustments, accuracy, and tracking.
• Manage US employee benefits programs, including health/wellness plans and 401(k) administration.
• Utilize and administer US HRIS platforms; currently using a PEO model, with responsibility for evaluating, recommending, and transitioning to alternative PEO or standalone HRIS platforms as needed.
• Maintain familiarity and operational expertise with ADP Workforce for payroll and HR management.

Compliance & Labor Relations

• Maintain deep familiarity and compliance with state and local labor laws, regulations, and employment processes, specifically in New York and New Jersey.
• Develop and enforce scalable, compliant HR procedures, policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and employee handbooks.

Team Leadership & Performance Management

• Supervise and serve as the primary point of contact for HR operations and support staff.
• Provide one‑on‑one and group mentorship to drive work quality, consistency, and professional growth.
• Oversee structured onboarding, offboarding, and professional development of team members across the organization.
• Facilitate performance reviews, appraisal processes, and goal‑setting strategies, reporting key metrics to senior leadership.

Operational Oversight & System Integration

• Own internal HR workflows and tech integrations across Google Workspace, Google Drive, AppFolio, Ramp, 3CX, and HRIS/payroll tools.
• Streamline overlapping HR tools, processes, and trackers to eliminate redundancies.

Quality Assurance & Communication

• Uphold executive‑level standards of spoken and written English communication across all HR correspondence, policies, and interactions.
• Maintain precise record‑keeping and data integrity across all organizational platforms.

Candidate Profile & Qualifications

Required:

• Recruitment Expertise: At least 3–5 years of hands‑on experience in full‑cycle recruitment, candidate screening, onboarding, and talent strategy.
• US Payroll & Benefits: Proven experience managing US payroll administration, along with direct experience administering US employee benefits and 401(k) plans.
• US HRIS & PEO Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of US HRIS systems; experience working within a PEO environment with the strategic ability to evaluate and recommend alternative PEO/HRIS platforms.
• ADP Experience: Hands‑on familiarity with ADP Workforce.
• State Labor Law Familiarity: Practical familiarity with labor laws, processes, compliance, and employment regulations specifically in New York and New Jersey.
• English Proficiency: Excellent English communication skills (both written and spoken) with the confidence to communicate effectively with C‑suite leadership, external partners, and employees.
• Leadership & Problem Solving: Demonstrated sound judgment, initiative, and the ability to operate independently with minimal supervision.
• Technical Skills: Tech‑savvy with proficiency in business platforms including Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Excel, and AppFolio.

Preferred:

• Experience with AppFolio is a strong plus.
• Demonstrated ability to build and standardize SOPs, workflows, and training systems.
• Familiarity with 3CX (VoIP) and other business systems.
• Demonstrated ownership mindset with the capacity to transition into an HR Director role as the team scales.